Health
Europe’s health after COVID-19
Many EU countries are now experiencing the second wave of the COVID-10 pandemic and it seems that the lack of Europe-wide coordination that marked the first wave is still there.
Rare diseases: Ensuring Europe remains at the forefront of innovation
In the past two decades, a combination of scientific breakthroughs coupled with strong incentive systems has seen considerable progress for rare disease patients, but this innovation has tapered off in recent years.
Reviewing orphan drugs law: A tough equation
The Orphan Regulation was introduced in 2000 and its main objective was to address the challenge of regulating medicines which treat patients with rare diseases. Around 246,000 people suffer from such diseases across the EU, The European Commission is expected...
Reviving EU ambition on organ donation and transplantation
Transplanting organs is one of the greatest medical achievements but donation remains a challenge for Europe, as 18 patients still die every day waiting for a donor.
Digital Transformation in Healthcare
The development of pioneering new digital treatments and technologies, including robotics, artifical intelligence and data networks, is set to transform our healthcare systems over the coming years.
Polluted air: the invisible killer
The European Environment Agency estimates that 374,000 Europeans die prematurely every year due to air pollution.
Shedding light on medical cannabis
The medical cannabis industry is growing rapidly in Europe and thousands of patients are already prescribed with cannabis-based drugs. This created a new demand that now runs the risk of being unsatisfied if the legislation remains fragmented amongst EU countries.
Whole grains: key part of healthy and sustainable diet
The Whole Grain Initiative, a partnership of international organisations and scientists dedicated to promoting whole grain diets, held an event on Tuesday (19 November) to mark the first International Whole Grain Day.
Empowering patients for a better health
Concepts like the multisectoral approach and people-centred health services are turning the healthcare sector upside down, putting people back at the core and breaking silos for implementing cross-sectoral policies.
An EU health policy for rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases
Rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) represent one of the more burdensome chronic diseases affecting around 25% of EU citizens of all ages. The European League Against Rheumatism (Eular) says that, beyond the impact on individuals, RMDs impose an enormous burden...
20 Visions for Europe
We gather 20 unique visions on the next two decades of Europe from public officials, intellectuals, artists, diplomats, athletes, civic actors and business representatives.
Biotechnology: Europe’s next ‘hot potato’
The discussion over the future of biotechnology in Europe heated up after the EU Court ruled in July last year that gene editing should, in principle, fall under the GMO Directive. We focus on the future of biotechnology in Europe, the regulatory framework of the so-called new plant-breeding techniques, as well as GMOs.
Buildings and the forgotten 90%
Human beings spend on average 90% of their lives indoors. Buildings are also a huge drain on energy resources and create a significant amount of greenhouse gas emissions. This Special Report looks deeper into the places we live and work.
A ‘healthy’ vaccines ecosystem
The EU's fragmented market has created barriers for vaccines in Europe. In this Special Report, EURACTIV looks into what a “healthy vaccines ecosystem” is and how its different components could better coordinate to break silos and improve healthcare.
How Europe can better tackle rising cancer incidence
Cancer, the second leading cause of death globally according to the World Health Organisation, is responsible for an estimated 9.6 million deaths in 2018. In light of projections that the cancer incidents in Europe will double by 2035, a new...
Saving energy, a European challenge of varying scale
Several EU member states, including France, have chosen to implement laws that would allow the trading of energy saving certificates, an important shift towards saving energy.
A circular economy retrospective
Recycling, reuse and all things circular are taking on more and more importance in Europe. Sustainability will remain high on the agenda of the next EU legislative cycle but what tools are in place to help the industry get it across the line?
Tobacco control: What’s next?
Tobacco consumption is the most significant cause of premature death in the EU, according to the European Commission. It is responsible for nearly 700,000 deaths every year.
Supporting sports to boost gender equality
Getting to better know your body, having healthier habits, gaining confidence… sports can be a tool for education for children, but also to enhance gender equality. Through its Erasmus + programme, the EU has been funding initiatives that aim at supporting inclusiveness, and integration in athletics events, including gender equality.
Developing Single Market resilience
Policymakers and relevant stakeholders want a further deepening of the Single Market, but they also value keeping 'the EU's main asset' safe from internal and external shocks. Celebrating its 25th anniversary last year, EU lawmakers called for a move away from simple rhetoric towards real delivery and completion of the market.
Can space technologies improve drinking water quality?
The use of space technologies in different sectors of the EU economy has seen an increase lately. Advocates suggest that satellite data could help improve or even optimise production, from agricultural practices to drinking water processing.
Alternatives to animal testing – the state of progress
The EU ban on animal testing for cosmetic products came into force in 2013, although testing is still allowed in Europe for healthcare products and pharmaceuticals, as well as some chemicals and food.
Life-course immunisation
In his 2017 State of the Union speech, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said it was “unacceptable” that children are still dying from diseases that can easily be prevented with vaccines, like measles.